Artist’s Harrogate exhibition inspired by Syrian crisis

While the world discusses and dithers and people die, a Harrogate gallery and a leading Yorkshire artist have come together to try to do something for the people most affected - the Syrian people.

Inspired by a friend who is working on the Sudan-Syrian border as a doctor, Piers Browne originally wanted to fly out there to paint new work inspire by the plight of the Syrians.

The Wensleydale artist said: “A doctor friend of mine is currently working out in Syria. There are two million refugees at the borders and the conditions are dreadful. I wanted to go out there and paint, but it wasn’t to be.”

Instead, he is now donating 25 per cent of the profits from his new exhibition, Fifty Shades of Browne, at Sutcliffe Contemporary Gallery to Medecins sans Frontieres and Save the Children.

This is not the first time Piers Browne has mixed painting with activism and fundraising.

A project entitled The Glorious Trees of Great Britain involved Piers recording in etching and drypoint over a ten